Heading into the West Indies series however, the brilliant and temperamental McCullum had only averaged 30 in his last 44 test innings, a disappointing outcome for a prodigious talent.

Recently though he has played two of his greatest knocks and threatens many more with his new-found maturity. In order, here are six of the best knocks from this polarising performer. Do you agree?

1. 302 v India, test, Wellington, 2014

This was the ultimate innings in New Zealand cricket history. The first triple century also set national records for most balls faced, most minutes batted and featured in the highest ever team score.

What's more it all started when New Zealand was 3-52 still needing 194 runs just to make India bat again.

McCullum lasted a little under 183 overs as he became just the third player in test history, after Walter Hammond and Don Bradman, to score a double century and a triple century in consecutive tests.

Only Hanif Mohammad (337) has made a higher second innings score.

2. 225 v India, test, Hyderabad, 2010

The great Bert Sutcliffe with 230 in 1955 was the only New Zealand batsman to have made a double century in India before this match in 2010.

New Zealand trailed India by 122 runs after the first innings, but instead of collapsing, McCullum foiled a menacing Harbhajan Singh and plundered 20 fours and four sixes to earn New Zealand a hard fought draw.

3. 224 v India, test, Auckland, 2014

McCullum arrived at the crease with New Zealand 3-30 after 17 overs. He rebuilt the innings with Kane Williamson (113) and then went on the offensive, blasting 29 fours and five sixes to make the highest score by a Kiwi at Eden Park.

The very first match of the IPL and McCullum went berserk. In 73 balls he hammered 10 fours and 13 sixes in a sustained assault that only Chris Gayle's 175, has matched.

What's more the Royal Challengers boasted an international class attack including Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Jacques Kallis and Cameron White.

6. 51 v Australia, ODI, Christchurch, 2005

Chasing 332 to beat Australia in a one day international, New Zealand was gone, 258-8 after 43 overs. However, a 25 ball half-century by McCullum batting at number nine lifted New Zealand to a most unlikely win.

Tearing apart an attack that featured Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken, McCullum hit three fours and four sixes as New Zealand won in the last over.